How important it is to choose a chipset that supports PCIe 2.0?

Well, It depends on if you wanna use the added bandwidth of the PCIe 2.0 compliant standard. Since its backwards compatible with 1.1, I guess if you plan on adding a more power card later, then get it, if you are making a final build with no intentions of adding more stuff, don't!

--Lupi

Lupi, I'm not sure how the rest of the population does it. For me, the mobo+processor usually outlasts the graphic cards I have. So I find myself changing graphic cards more often than mobo+processor that I usually keep for 3 years.

Having said that, the PCIe 2.0 compliant mobos are pretty step in pricing and I am leaning towards a P35 chipset. Not sure if I would regret one or two years down the road when PCIe 2.0 becomes a de facto standard.

Anyone has the same dilemma as me?

Alanman - Interesting point. Thanks. I am still trying to read up on what the roadmap of PCIe 2.0 is going to be. So much to read up! How technology moves ...

This is an area where one has to basically just make a prediction.
With the support to nVidia by Intel slacking off over the last year or so, because Intel wants to have a better presence in the hi end computer video arena. Nvidia will be the odd man out when it comes to chipsets.
True to our statement, the Intel chipsets do seem to perform better over all.
Though most of the new higher end video cards coming out take advantage of PCIe2.0. I really don't see the need for it right now. I would say sometime down the road like 18 months or so.
I don't recall exactly but I think the Intel CPU road map has a new socket coming out in the same time frame. Right now the X38/X48 chipsets don't show the needed bang for buck, that would convince me to buy one over a P35. I mean $100 gets you a great motherboard where the X series start at almost $100 dollars more.
If I wanted to build a good system today I would start with a P35 board and one of the currently available quads, 4 gig of good ddr2 800 and keep the 8800GT.